The Irish standard., 1887-08-06

down. 0
: Some commands I have for you from
} Liverpool, said Tom Burke, pulling
} huge purse from the breast pocket
:, Commands was Toms word for every
5 thing in the shape of message.
Poor Connor Shea, he continued. ii
! a very feeling tone, considering th,
roughness Of his appearance, that ken
short O. money to pay his little boy
passage His listeners waited IN som,
anxiety, while he fumbled at the ba{
with his clumsy fingers. At length HI
abstracted a ring FROM amongst q bun
idle of bank notes, and handed it t.
Brian.
i I don't understand said Brian, ex
amining the ring, which he saw was o1
some value.
/ Il don't know myself what it's worth,
continued Tom Burke, but as poor
Connor was always man, took hif
word for it. A matchmaker offered
him nine pounds for it. he towld NE.
an sure, / know he didn't tell me a lie
So gave him what he axed-fye
pounds-on condition of giving you th :
ring, which he hopes you'll keep till
he'll be able to releaseit. At the same
time, you needn't hurry yourself about
the five pounds, as it will do whenever
you find it convenient
| The ring was examined by every one
present, and many surmlses were ven.
tured to account for how it could have
come into Connor Shea's possession.
Brian was more puzzled than any Of
them. The matter was cut short by
Mrs. Purcell, who declared emphatically
that Connor Shea got the ring hon.
est]y, however he go it.
And now, Tom,' said Mr. Purcell,
as you're here come and take look at
a lot of sheep I'm going to send to the
fair On Wednesday,
WHO'S this in the tax-cart?' Mr.. p ur-
cell asked, as he was passing round't to
the farm yard.
This is Captain Dawson about thu
horse said Brian in reply. Don't sell
more than fifty OF the sheep
Don't part with your horse said his
father.
He offered ME eighty, and said he
might have him for hundred. OF
course, WON'T break my word; and be-
sides, you know tits unlucky to refuse
a good offer. And Brian hurried to the
door, and shook hands cordially with a
dashing looking young man equipped
for the hunting field.
'The governor must be particular
TREND of yours said Captain Dawson,
laughing.
Who, Mr.. Grindem?'
Yes. He wouldn't listen to reason;
refused point-blank to let me give
hundred for hunter till l told him
twas your horse was buying
He knew he was worth the money,
and more, said Brian.
But the truth was, Brian Purcell
mounted upon this same horse, was
sight that often disgusted MI. Grindem,
and to this fact his nephew owed the
cheque which he now placed on che
table. Connor Shea's ring happened to
be on the same table, and Captain
Dawson took 1t up carelessly to look at
it. He laid it down hastily, with a look
of extreme bewilderment. aud his face
flushed scarlet as his coat when he saw
Brian put the ring in his waistcoat
pocket. AS Captain Dawson was
usually rather taciturn no one noticed
that he never opened his lips while the
hunter was being saddled, and that he
him and rode away like man
in dream.
AS Brian held Mr.. Oliver .Grindem's 8
cheque for 9l00 between his fingers,
while Tom Burke was pushing q sheaf
of notes towards his father, saying, as
he did so, Your health, Mr. Purcell
for Tom had tumb]er of grog in his
left handl; tits too much I'm giving
you'-he could not help thinking OF the
handsome sum which was tohis fathers !
credit in the National Bank five years
ago, But, as this was gloomy subject
to dwell upon, Brian called his grey
hounds and set out for his farm at Cool !